Gator chomps and Bulldog barks followed Richt on spring break
ATHENS – Georgia’s football team switched gears from spring break to spring practice Tuesday — a rather jolting change.
Just back from the university’s spring break, which many players and coaches spent on the beach, the Bulldogs returned to the practice field on an unseasonably warm afternoon. They held their second session of spring practice, 12 days after the first.
“Spring break — for spring football, it really does stink,” coach Mark Richt said. “You get ‘em working; you get ‘em up to a certain point of readiness, mentally, physically. And then boom, they’re gone. . . . And we [coaches] are, too. Our minds — we’re out of here, too.
“It’s hard to just come back off spring break and just expect everybody to look great. But hopefully we’ll be locked in and ready to go from here on.”
Richt spent part of his spring break on the beach in Jamaica, and listen to what greeted him there:
“I’m not lying to you: The first time we laid down our stake at the beach — laid it down just barely, hadn’t even sat down yet, just trying to get the chair aligned with the sun — two Gators [fans] are right [next] to where my chair was, right where I was looking.”
He had other encounters with SEC fans on the trip, too.
“I’ll tell you what, man: The SEC is everywhere,” he said.
“I got a couple of these,” he added, showing the Gator chomp. “But I had a lot of great Bulldogs barking, too, so it was good.”
Anyway, a rested Richt and his team were back at work Tuesday.
“I thought we were a little sluggish,” Richt said. “I hate to make it sound like it was a bad [practice] because it really wasn’t, but I don’t think everybody did a real good job over spring break staying in shape.”
The Bulldogs will practice again on Thursday.
Bare-handed Murray
If you’re wondering, quarterback Aaron Murray practiced without gloves Tuesday.
He wore them in Georgia’s 10-6 Liberty Bowl loss to Central Florida, a choice that drew much debate after the game.
“Yeah, I definitely heard a lot of second-guessing,” Murray said Tuesday. “But when you go back and watch the film, most of the bad plays were not due to throwing. It was more mental errors. So it had nothing to do with the glove.”
In any case, Murray said he doesn’t plan to wear a glove on his throwing hand during games or practices in the future unless cold weather possibly dictates.
“I felt good with it heading into the [bowl] game, with the weather and everything,” he said. “But as of right now we’re just using the hand.”
Murray participated fully in Tuesday’s practice, and he said his ankle, which he sprained in a pickup soccer game last month, “feels 100 percent.”
“I’m still doing rehab just to make sure it stays strong,” he said. “But I felt great out there today and really haven’t had any problems in about a week or so.”
Benedict’s long road back
Offensive lineman Brent Benedict, who was redshirted as a freshman last season after suffering a severe knee injury in high school, said he is a “full-go” participant this spring.
“It was a long road coming back,” he said.
He is working at right guard.
Donations rise
Donations to the Georgia athletics program have topped last year’s level despite the Bulldogs’ first losing football season in 14 years.
Contributions to the “Hartman Fund,” the fund-raising vehicle that is tied to football season tickets, stood at $22.94 million as of Monday night with “still a few dribbling in,” according to Dave Muia, the athletics department official who oversees fund-raising and alumni relations.
That total exceeds last year’s contributions of $22.74 million.
This year’s stated deadline for contributions was Feb. 15, but the cutoff, as usual, was flexible.
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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320 comments Add your comment
NWGA Dawg
March 23rd, 2011
7:58 am
Richt knew they were Gator fans b/c they were wearing jean shorts….haha
Dawg_Mike
March 23rd, 2011
8:02 am
I saw a great youtube video a couple of years back- it was a parody of the “go gators” commercial where everyone greets each other with “go gators”, but at the end of it when a guy says “go gators” the recipient says “Go F yourself”.
Sums up my thoughts about jort nation.
Bawbie
March 23rd, 2011
8:08 am
FIRE DAVE PERNO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andy in Blairsville
March 23rd, 2011
8:09 am
Lets hunker down and finish the drill for yet another season of regional mediocrity!
Larry Bird
March 23rd, 2011
8:13 am
Hey Andy in Blairsville, f- you. You want regional mediocrity go see your wife. I’ll bet you right now the Dawgs win 10+ games this year. You can take that to the bank.
10 - 6
March 23rd, 2011
8:26 am
Richt should have vacationed in Orlando to be reminded about the pathetic loss to Mickey Mouse U.
Gator Mike
March 23rd, 2011
8:30 am
Mark Richrt has a sense of humor which is required in his profession in order to keep his sanity. Hopefully, he enjoyed his time in Jamaica.
I also love the fact that a lot of Gator Haters seem to think UF will return to the lackluster form of the 70s and 80s. It is good that they do not carry a bull’s eye this year.
The UF-UGA Game in Jax should be a good one this year. If the Gators beat the Dawgs this year, will UGA take Muschamps name of the list of UGA graduates and former players? Hopefully he is mentally tough because he is going to catch a lot of flack regardless of who wins.
Having said that, I am very happy that Will Muschamp is the Gator Coach even though he is also a Dawg. Go Gators!
Spokesman for the SEC East
March 23rd, 2011
8:40 am
Richt is clueless! If he does not like the break for springbreak for Spring football practice then why doesn’t the dumba$$ change the date in which practice starts. Wow what a concept. Oh and Dawg_Mike, about as many Gators wear jorts as 400 pound fat rednecks wear overalls and Georgia t-shirts.
Red Pantalones
March 23rd, 2011
8:49 am
It’s kind of sad to see all the Dawg fans getting so excited this year (just like the year before, the year before that, etc.). How long is it going to take for UGA fans to realize that UGA is simply no longer relevant in the SEC? In the national picture, UGA isn’t even a blip on the radar, and hasn’t been since the preseason #1 ranking a few years ago.
Sit back and be grateful for the six or seven wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 8-4 or even 9-3 occasionally, but Florida will still win the SEC, meaning no BCS bowls and no top 10 final ranking. Most years, UGA will be very lucky to finish in the top 25, and only after a big bowl win over a nobody opponent.
It’s a different world now, and Dawg fans need to adjust their expectations downward to reflect reality.
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Dawgtard Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
Get your heads out of the sand and face reality. And mediocrity and irrelevance. And red panties.
Rip Van Winkle
March 23rd, 2011
8:57 am
Will the humpers win this year or should I go back to sleep for another 31 years?
UCF Terminator
March 23rd, 2011
8:58 am
Why do UGA fans get so excited every year?
JB
March 23rd, 2011
9:13 am
red pantalones…….If Tech is so hard, don’t you need more time to study…..and how do I know you are a Techie. The hate and envy is so bad over there that you guys are the only ones to write a 1,000 word essay on a blog about your hate for UGA. Trust me, nobody else cares that much. It’s still 9 of 10, which doesn’t even make it interesting anymore, and looking at your last two recruiting classes, opening up with Western Carolina is about right for you guys.
dawgrific
March 23rd, 2011
9:13 am
wow spokesman, we seem to have struck a nerve
dawgrific
March 23rd, 2011
9:15 am
and yes, the sad yet venemous envy from the techies is SO obvious, no matter what there screen names are-LOL
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
9:20 am
Who schedules Spring Practice with a Spring Break starting right after the first practice????? So you have one practice and then you’re on a two week break, then you have the nads to state that stinks????
That alone explains why the CEO is a dolt, and will never win anything!
1eyedJack
March 23rd, 2011
9:20 am
The AJC should start charging Red Pantalones and his other nom de plumes for advertising since he “advertises” the same drivel every single blog having anything to do with UGA.
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
9:21 am
@Larry Bird – Name those 10+ wins Hero!
Buzzzer
March 23rd, 2011
9:22 am
Can you stupid dawgtards say “15-6″?
And a 3-0 sweep last year?
Or can’t you win without your red panties?
Delta Stewardess
March 23rd, 2011
9:27 am
Richt should have gone to Corpus Christi now body in Texas would care about a SEC football coach. He and his family could have really relaxed in peace.
It looked like the dawg pitchers were drunk not the Skole kid for Tech.
dawgrific
March 23rd, 2011
9:33 am
ah yes, baseball, the one thing in sports giving yechies a reason to live, and to come onto our blogs to spew. oh, nevermind, they do that everday anyway, as the envy will not rest, LOL
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
9:35 am
Heres losses for @ Larry Bird.
UF
Boise State
Miss State
USC
Auburn
Hmmm, Even if you win 2 of those games its only a 9 win season. UGA will not win 3 of those 5 games, so 3 losses there is a given.
Lets look at some of the power houses UGA will play in 2011.
Coastal Carolina
New Mexico State
GA Yech
Vanderbilt
So thats 4 wins against highly inferior opponents – That is a 6-3 record.
The other 4 games are a toss up.
Kentucky
Tenn – at Tenn
at Ole Miss
Win all 3 thats a 9-3 season.
Lose 2 thats a 7-5 Season.
given the CEO’s propensity for inconsistent play on any given week UGA could win 9 at best and lose 6 at worst.
Nope, 10+ wins cannot be put in any bank this year.
I say 7 wins and the CEO and his buddies are HISTORY at UGA. And thats what will happen, 7 wins.
Pong
March 23rd, 2011
9:38 am
Richt went on a vacation.
Murray won’t use the glove.
Big news.
I want to know
March 23rd, 2011
9:39 am
If Bush bombed Libya, would the lib media being basking in it all like they are for Barry?
Also, I want updates on the Auburn thugs that plannned and then BROKE INTO a home in Opelika.
Also, by now, are you AU grads still proud?
Inquiring minds want to know.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
9:41 am
I don’t understand the haters on here wanting Richt gone( Tech I do, he owns them). The next hire just might get all this talent to stay home and not have Bobo as OC…………..Oh crap, I didn’t think about that !!!!!!!!
Gene
March 23rd, 2011
9:41 am
What happened to Richt’s “state of the art” football study? He should stick to the tanning bed in Athens and do his homework.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
9:43 am
Snake Doc……………Auburn? They are in total rebuild this year. New QB, 4 new OL, Stud DT and LB gone…Hardest schedule in div 1….Lucky to go to a bowl this year…..
Larry Bird
March 23rd, 2011
9:43 am
Boise State UGA 38 BOISE 14
South Carolina UGA 28 SC 21
Coastal Carolina UGA 51 CC 0
at Ole Miss UGA 42 OLE MISS 10
Mississippi State UGA 24 MSU 20
at Tennessee UGA 35 TENN 17
at Vanderbilt UGA 38 VANDY 14
Florida UGA 24 UF 21
New Mexico State UGA 70 NMSU0
Auburn UGA 31 AU 24
Kentucky UGA 35 UK 10
at Georgia Tech UGA 77 GT 3
SEC Championship UGA 21 BAMA 20
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP UGA 42 OKLAHOMA 24
THERE YOU GO SNAKE DOC…. 10 wins was a conservative guess. Here’s the real schedule. Booyah.
P.S. I got a trouser snake for you to work on.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
9:45 am
Barry is under complete cover of 95% of Media…the guy is WAY over is head, and no one advising him has EVER earned a paycheck in the private sector. Please, the guy has got to go.
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
9:46 am
WOW! @ Larry Bird – Yoe are a dreamer, KUDO’s for having big dreams and big faith in the CEO!
I have never seen one so delusional as you!
Plus – didn’t know you were one who enjoys boys and not girls! that explains it all! As for me I’m not you’re type. I like women!
Tackler
March 23rd, 2011
9:46 am
I got Georgia beating 4 teams:
Coastal Carolina, New Mexico St, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss
I got Georgia losing for sure to 5 teams:
Auburn, Florida, Boise, South Carolina, Miss State
I got 3 toss up that could go either way:
Georgia Tech, Tenn, Kentucky
Looking at somewhere between a low of 4 wins, 8 losses
Potential high of 7 wins, 5 losses.
Probably end up 6-6 again, right in the middle.
Smores
March 23rd, 2011
9:48 am
It’s not feasible to expect us to go from 0-6 against ranked teams to anymore than 1-4 against the 5 ranked teams in 2011.
Mule Mile
March 23rd, 2011
9:51 am
Think we got a shot at MSU & Auburn. 40% chance.
Florida, Boise, South Carolina, no chance.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
9:51 am
Larry, what’s sad, The state has the players and the University has the money to make that list real. I love Mark Richt as a person, be he is underachieving as a HC. At the end of the day, as with any business, it’s all about management.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
9:53 am
Tackler….If that turns out to be true, there will be a new man on the sidelines in 2012, just say’n.
Tackler
March 23rd, 2011
9:56 am
I figure we went 7-5 in 2009, 6-6 in 2010, so 2011 might be either 5-7 to 7-5 type of season. That’s all Richt is capable of these days.
Let’s face it.
Mark Richt is incompetent.
Larry Bird
March 23rd, 2011
9:56 am
Ouch, you tooooold me!… hey, you gotta dream big baby… why not UGA? Best qb in the sec, new line coach, new s&c program, Grantham is gonna bust some heads on his defense hopefully, Richt is not going to let this team fail this year. Bobo even went and got a few pointers from Meadowcreek high schools offensive coordinator. This is the year!!!! Take it to the bank! We’re not scared of anybody on this schedule.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
9:57 am
Richt has a ACC mentality. That gets you 6-6, 7-5 in the SEC.
kb
March 23rd, 2011
9:57 am
Tackler , you must lead the tickle pile. I hope you don’t gamble you’re going to lose a lot of money.
Tackler
March 23rd, 2011
9:58 am
Richt has 2 wins in last 2 years against ranked teams.
Tackler
March 23rd, 2011
10:00 am
Actually, the team has got less wins 3 years in a row now. You guys are dreaming if you think “this is the year”.
I said that in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Didn’t happen.
Get a clue, clueless.
Aaron....are you kidding???
March 23rd, 2011
10:00 am
I’m an Aaron Murray fan, but have to disagree with him on the effect the glove had on his throws. Did anyone else notice how un-crisp his passes were? It was apparent late in the second quarter that his passes were not what they typically were all season.
Keep the glove off please…….
Dawg1965
March 23rd, 2011
10:00 am
@Snake Doc, 7 wins? You are crazy, I do believe you may be Mark Bradley using an anonymous name to post on this blog
@Smores: oh, it is not only feasible, it is inevitable
@Mule Mile: if we dont win 2 out of those 3, I’ll bow down and call you daddy
Willie
March 23rd, 2011
10:01 am
The writing is on the wall. You can read the signs. 11 wins in 2007, 10 in 2008, 8 in 2009, 6 in 2010.
Youd have to be beyond naiive to ignore this.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:03 am
I’m hoping the bowl game last year was a “teachable” moment. Playing not to lose will make you lose. Kicking a FG on fourth and inch’s on the three IN A BOWL GAME with almost the entire game left to play Screams loser. I’m sorry, it does.
Jerry
March 23rd, 2011
10:03 am
Murray suffers from Richtophobia. It’s a susperstition that changing your clothing makes you perform better. You know, new jersey color, gloves.
Troll Power Index Rating
March 23rd, 2011
10:03 am
Red pantalones,
Very weak effort. On a scale of 1 to 10 it is a 1.
Repeating same old stuff over and over.
AD was fired
Auburn winning fulmer Cup, not UGA
Weak effort. Pitiful in fact.
Jerry
March 23rd, 2011
10:04 am
It bothers me that Murray played so poorly in the 13th game of the season. He showed no progress. 2 interceptions & a fumble, no scores.
Snoop Dawg
March 23rd, 2011
10:04 am
Funny that Richt ran into those Gator fans in Jamaica. They should have treated him right, bought him and da Water Girrrrl some foo foo drinks because they owe him a lot. Actually, they own him. Richt can’t beat UF, and because of all the juvenile gimmicks that showed his own insecurities, now the Dawgs have a psyche problem with Florida. Only way to get over it is to hire a real coach, not an imposter.
Troll Power Index Rating
March 23rd, 2011
10:07 am
Jerry
Also a weak effort.
If there was a zero score, you would get it.
Talking to yourself under multiple handles.
Bashing Murray over and over to anger UGA fans on the blogs.
Pitiful effort.
Weak.
ZERO
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:07 am
Prediction: Mark will end up back in the ACC at NC State,NC, maybe even Wake. His last four years in Athens will kill any chance of getting hired by a football factory school.